An anhydrous ammonia leak from a tanker truck behind a Holiday Inn in Weatherford, Oklahoma, forced mass evacuations and sent several dozen people to hospitals, with four reported in critical condition. Emergency crews wearing gas masks conducted door-to-door evacuations and a temporary shelter-in-place order was later lifted. About 500–600 people used a shelter, nursing homes were evacuated and schools were closed. Authorities say a likely valve or seal failure caused the release; hazmat teams, environmental officials and the National Guard are assisting while air quality is monitored.
Anhydrous Ammonia Tanker Leak in Weatherford, Oklahoma Sends Dozens to Hospital and Triggers Mass Evacuations
An anhydrous ammonia leak from a tanker truck behind a Holiday Inn in Weatherford, Oklahoma, forced mass evacuations and sent several dozen people to hospitals, with four reported in critical condition. Emergency crews wearing gas masks conducted door-to-door evacuations and a temporary shelter-in-place order was later lifted. About 500–600 people used a shelter, nursing homes were evacuated and schools were closed. Authorities say a likely valve or seal failure caused the release; hazmat teams, environmental officials and the National Guard are assisting while air quality is monitored.
01:03 AM, 11/14/2025Environment
Anhydrous ammonia leak forces evacuations in Weatherford, Oklahoma
Late Wednesday night a tanker truck leaking anhydrous ammonia began releasing hazardous gas behind a Holiday Inn in Weatherford, Oklahoma, prompting door-to-door evacuations and sending several dozen people to hospitals, officials said Thursday.
Immediate response: Emergency crews in gas masks canvassed neighborhoods early Thursday, waking residents and instructing them to evacuate. Authorities briefly issued a shelter-in-place order that was lifted Thursday morning after crews contained the release. Hazardous-material teams, environmental officials and the Oklahoma National Guard were on scene, and air quality monitoring was in place.
Injuries and shelters: Police Chief Angelo Orefice said roughly 30 people were taken to a local hospital, with additional patients treated at other facilities; four people were reported in critical condition. Authorities did not immediately provide a complete breakdown of patient counts or longer-term conditions. Between 500 and 600 people sought refuge at an emergency shelter; several nursing homes were evacuated and local schools were closed for the day.
Krystal Blackwell, an evacuee, said it 'was a little crazy to wake up to' the emergency as workers in protective gear escorted residents from their homes.
Cause and containment: Orefice said the truck driver had parked behind the hotel for the night. Investigators believe the leak was caused by a mechanical failure in a valve or a faulty seal on the tanker. Officials reported the tanker was no longer leaking and said crews had been diluting the gas and monitoring the cleanup, which could take several days.
About anhydrous ammonia: Anhydrous ammonia is a colorless gas with a sharp, suffocating odor commonly used as a farm fertilizer for crops such as corn and wheat. At high concentrations it can be fatal; exposure can also cause respiratory distress and chemical burns to the skin and eyes. Authorities urged residents to follow local instructions and avoid affected areas.
Context: The Weatherford incident follows other recent anhydrous ammonia events, including a leak after an explosion at a plant near Yazoo City, Mississippi, last week, and a fatal tanker spill in Illinois two years ago that killed five people after a vehicle forced the truck off the road.
Company statement: Industrial gas distributor Airgas, based in Radnor, Pennsylvania, said it was working with local authorities and reminded the public that 'anhydrous ammonia warrants cautious handling and management,' urging residents to follow official guidance.
Ongoing actions: Local officials said they were coordinating with state and federal environmental teams to complete cleanup and continue monitoring air quality before allowing residents to return to the area.